Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-11
SECRET SERVICE.
HOW A PLAN On THE NERRINAC WAS
SECURED.
Officers Hiding Three Days and Nights in an
Old Gar~rs.-Susl.ag Rebel Urifrms
in Order 10 Escape Capture.
Boston Globe

~ 49,
guns of the batteries at Newport, Va,
suddenly opened upon small sloop layint
her case before a strong breeze in the di
rection of the city of Norfolk. The gar
rison of the fort was no doubt induced Il
this course Of action by the hosting Of
large Confederate flag on the halyards o
the sloop, and act Of bravado seemingly
unnecessary and certainly placing the lit
tie vessel ir fearful jeopardy, rs the SHELF
from a ~ pound Sames gun penetrated
the canvass of the sloop in two places
proving the capacity of Uncle Sans gun
ners, and yet the evident desire o.
the Union cannoneers TO Gloss
the sailing career Of the pigmy was
unsuccessful, as she sailed on her way tC
the Confederate stronghold, meeting al
most Immediately the gunboat Beaufort
whose crew manifested their JOY at thu
sloop's escape from the enemy by a hearty
sailor cheer. 4 few miles further up the
river the Confederate steamer jamestown
was met and boarded by n of the occu
pants of the sloop, who informed the (lat'
Union navy Commander, John r. Tucker
that the sloop had run TIT
blockade at Hampton Roads, come
from Baltimore, and had n large
packet of private letters from
citizens OF that place to their friends il
Norfolk, Va. After supplying the genia
commander of the Confederate craft with
the latest New York and Washington pa
pers the sloop continued on her way to hel
destination, the navy yard at Norfolk
which was reached that evening, ant
where the two persons composing the crew
were received with open arms, especially a!
they carried several letters directed to Flas
Officer Franklin Buchanan OF the Conted
crate navy, who commanded the nava
forces at Norfolk.
The apparent belief which the Confeder
ate authorities had that the letter carrier'
were sympathizers with the Southerr
cause was shown in the courtesies ex
tended to them when strolling around thu
navy ward where the Merrimac was pre-
paring for her never-to.be forgotten hsttl,
at Hampton Roads. and the letters tina
Lieutenant Catesby r. Jones, the ex
~ecutive officer of that vessel. had received
through their assistance made him very
careless in regard to their movements ant
investigations as to the construction Of hi
vessel. By iudicious oratory, sweetenec
with United States greenbacks, it was no
n very difficult matter to procure a copy o
the plans nv which the Merrimac was re
built, and the same means were used Il
obtain other information that was Of grea
value to the army and navy authorities q
Fortress Monroe. At midnight Of the All
of March it was contemplated by the tw'
secret service officers in the employ o
Uncle Sam to run back 10 Hampton Roads
and all arrangements to make their depart
urc look like an escape from Norfolk hat
been made. The Confederate steame
Teaser was to pursue them until under III
gnns ot the batteries of Newport Nevs. hu
careful not to place their shots too close
On the morning Of that dav the Confederat
mail destined for Baltimore and Washing
ton friends was received, and among !
three letters from General ]. Rankhea'
Masruder, the commander of the Southern
Army of the Peninsula.
The mail was verv important and tn
carriers anxious to deliver it. They. hat
no donbt hut that their dangerous schem
bad been successful and that nothing conl'
occur TO our to maj il, when AT nightfal
the colored waiter at the hotel Mt which
they were stopping slipped into the hand
Of one of the visitors a little note with thi
terrible information: "Run away massa
say Won he Yanks." OF course the situa
ton became intensely interesting abou
this time. and the boys felt as If havini
dropped from n balloon without n para
chute at hand. They understood tina
arrest, even if not followed nv
hanging bee would prevent the arriva
of their mail at the United States head
quarters at Fortress Monroe, and al
things considered. they were in a haC
dilemma. Proceeding 10 their room with
out giving evidence Of haste, they CLOSED
the door and tore open the long marrow
bag Of tarred canvas in which the letter
had been placed. wrapped in oil silk, a
the plan had been TO nail this strip OF can
vas TO the keel Of the sloop previous TO he
sham escape to Union waters. Instant &C
ton heing necessary. the companion
divided the letters. secreting then
about their clothing. The win
dow Of their chamber being abou
I four feet above a hack shed, the
dropped cautiously down, reaching il
: this manner the rear ward OF the hotel
whence they scaled the fence and foun'
themselves in an allev leading TO one Of tn
main thoroughfares of the city. After
5 hurried consultation it was decided +
meet in two hours ut the back Of the nav
ward at Portsmouth. a town connecte'
with Norfolk by q ferry boat; then tn
twain separated. One Of them standing a
the ferry house, awaiting t~ransportatio'
across the river, had to undergo the tryin
ordeal Of meeting with the executive off
Ger of the Beaufort, who, grateful for tn
newspaper received p few days previous
accosted him with sailor-like friendlines
and was pretty hard to get rid OF.
Arriving at Portsmouth, q visit wa
paid 10 a mechanic whose Acquaintance
the secret service man had made Will
looking around the Gosport Navy Yard
He was a Philadelphia and looked as
be might be trusted. Gradually the con
yersation turned To the war, and tn
Northerner indicated by his hesitancy, etc.
that he was not dead in love with the star
and bars, and when the hint was give
that his visitor was An emissaJy from tn
boys who tried 20 make the star
and stripes perpetual, he bars
out with the words, Good Lord,
was q member of the old Hibernia
Hose, and you don't think / could be
reb, do YOU" The perilous situation /
which the two secret service officers wer
t placed was explained to him, and the nc
BILE fellow made the proposition that a
/! midnight the garnet Of his humble HON
should become their refuge till an oppor
tunity could be found TO escape from tn
secession stronghold. The offer vas CRATE
fully accepted, and, as upon reaching tn
rendezvous back of the navy yard the com
rade had no better plan to propose, tn